Knowledge Centre

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A short course gives you skills. A licence authorises you to deliver these services — and to earn revenue from them.

2. What You Need to Know

Short Course: A learning programme designed to upskill you in a specific area (like Excel for Accountants, Tax for SMEs, or IFRS updates). They improve your knowledge but don’t give you legal rights.
Licence: Formal authorisation from a regulator or professional body to provide services that affect compliance, client money, or public trust.
Example: You can complete a payroll short course to understand how it works. But if you want to run payroll services for clients, you need a tax advisor licence that recognises you as an accredited tax practitioner.

3. Why It Matters to You

Make money: Licences allow you to monetise skills gained in short courses.
Stay out of trouble: Without the right licence, you risk penalties from SARS, CIPC, or regulators.
Build client trust: Clients feel safer when you’re licensed, not just trained.
Stay relevant: Short courses keep your knowledge current — licences keep your practice legal.

4. Frameworks, Standards, or References

Licences: Issued by CIBA to comply with regulators like SARS and CIPC
Short Courses: Offered by training providers like CIBA — valuable for CPD, but not legally binding.
CIBA CPD: CIBA short courses and licences are CPD-accredited to maintain your designation

5. How to Apply

Identify your service area — Tax, assurance, or business rescue.
Take a short course — Build or refresh the skills you need.
Apply for the relevant licence — Through CIBA membership portal
Combine them — Use the short course knowledge under the authority of your license to deliver services.

5. Resources